Impatiens plant named `96-009-4`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens hybrid plant, and named `96-009-4` is provided. `96-009-4` is distinct in its unusual shade of orange with red venation, slightly cupped flowers, early flowering, medium green foliage and upright branching growth habit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct Impatiens plant, botanically known as a cultivar derived from a cross between Impatiens walleriana and Impatiens auricoma and is characterized by the following combination of repeatedly observed traits:

1. Exhibits attractive, single, slightly cupped flowers in abundance,

2. exhibits an unusual shade of orange with red venation,

3. is early flowering,

4. forms medium green foliage, and

5. exhibits an upright branching growth habit.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Asexual reproduction of this cultivar by stem cuttings taken during November, 1994 at Lompoc, Calif. has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation, such reproduction establishing that the plant does in fact maintain the characteristics described in successive generations. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was an Impatiens walleriana named `Super Elfin White` (unpatented) and the male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was an unnamed plant of Impatiens auricoma. The cross was made in 1991 and the seedling was selected in 1992 .

This new cultivar has been identified as Impatiens Hybrid `96-009-4`. It is possible that other identification will be adopted in the trade, but the name selected will serve for the purposes hereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as is reasonably possible, a color illustration of a typical specimen of a plant of the new cultivar. The plant of `96-009-4` was approximately 14 weeks from planting as an unrooted stem (internodal) cutting and was grown in a 10 cm pot.

In the photograph:

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant including mature inflorescences.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown near Lompoc, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. These observations and measurements were recorded in Spring, 1997 from plants (about 14 weeks from unrooted stem (internodal) cutting) grown in 10 cm pots. Fully developed organs were used for measurements and color descriptions, unless otherwise indicated. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

`96-009-4` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment and horticultural practices, such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilization and propagation procedure, without any change in genotype.

Parentage:

Female parent.--Impatiens walleriana `Super Elfin White` (unpatented).

Male parent.--Impatiens auricoma, an unnamed plant.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Stem (internodal) cutting with two nodes and attached leaves.

Time to initiate roots.--10-14 days at 70-75 degrees F. with a fully developed root mass at 21 days.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous, branching, adventitious root system.

Plant descriptions:

Form.--Upright, bush shaped.

Growth habit.--Upright branching plant habit with upper leaves and flowers produced in whorls, mature plants become somewhat pendulous. When grown in a 4 inch pot for 10-12 weeks, the height is approximately 4-5 inches and the width is approximately 5 inches.

Mature growth habit.--Mature plants grown in 10" pots, eight months of age, reach a mature height of 16-18 inches tall with a spread of 2.5 to 3 feet. The internode length of upper portions of the stem approximately 1 cm long with internodes of lower portions of the stem approximately 2-3 cm long. Stems are reddish and glabrous.

Vigor.--Grown in the spring under Lompoc, Calif. conditions in a 70-80 degree Fahrenheit greenhouse; the stem of an actively growing plant elongates approximately 1-1.5 cm in a week's time.

Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves alternate (spirally arranged) with upper leaves arranged in whorls.

Leaf color.--Leaf color is green. The upper surface is between green group 137A and 137B. Under surface is green group 138B.

Petiole.--Petiole 2.5-4 cm long, with a number of 1-1.5 mm long stipitate glands at the top.

Leaf shape.--Lanceolate to elliptic with the base attenuate, the apex acute to acuminate.

Leaf size.--3 cm wide×6 cm long.

Leaf margin.--Crenate with short glandular appendages.

Leaf dorsal and ventral surfaces.--Glabrous.

Venation.--Pinnate, arcuate.

Flowering description:

Flowering habit.--Indeterminate, flowering continuously. Flowers develop progressively around the upper leaf whorls.

Natural flowering season.--Flowers continuously throughout the year.

Flowers borne.--Singly on pedicels 3 cm. long in clusters 2-7 flowers with a peduncle length of 1.5-2 cm long.

Quantity of flowers.--Floriferous. One cluster of 2-7 flowers per leaf occurring progressively around the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to mature blooms are visible at the same time in large numbers.

Calyx.--Consists of 3 sepals, one pair of lateral 7 mm wide×10 mm long sepals elliptically shaped, acute at the tip and one lower 8 mm wide×19 mm long sepal, 5 mm deep, navicular in shape, abruptly constricted into a 2 mm wide×15 mm long tubular incurved spur, with a 4 mm bi-lobed tip.

Mature bud.--Ovately shaped, bud is 9 mm wide×12 mm long×12 mm tall. Bud surface is glabrous. Bud color is yellow-green group 145B, sometimes reddish.

Corolla.--Consist of 5 petals. Upper dorsal petal is free and lies slightly behind the remaining four petals which are fused into two lateral pairs. The dorsal petal is cucullate, forming a hood that projects forward. As a consequence the upper petal of each lateral united pair is curved (cupped) inward. The upper lateral petals slightly overlap the lower petal of each pair with lower petals lying slightly incurved to flat. The petals of the lateral united pairs are close to equal in size. Upper petals obovate, lower petals oblong to elliptical in shape, entire. Two lower petals exhibit red venation which diffuses onto the base of the petals creating a red splash over the claw.

Petals.--Number of petals 5, with all petals overlapping. Top three petals slightly cupped.

Petal size.--Dorsal petal: 12 mm wide×12 mm tall. Upper lateral petals: 15 mm×15 mm long. Lower lateral petals: 13 mm wide×22 mm long.

Flower color.--Upper surface: Orange group 25C with two bottom petals grading from orange group 25A to 25C from base of petal to outer edge. Under surface: Orange group 25C. The two lower petals exhibit a red venation, 45B, which diffuses onto the base of these petals giving a red splash appearance over the claw.

Lastingness of individual blooms--7-10 days.

Flower size.--Approximately 2 cm wide and 3 cm long.

Nectary/spur length.--Approximately 1.5 cm long, orange group 25C.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens 5. Anthers: Red-purple fused hood forming one organ that surrounds the pistil. Anthers shed pollen prior to stigma becoming receptive. Pollen: Cream color. Filament color: Orange group 25A. Stigma: 5 pointed star, translucent clear, lacking color. Ovary: 5 celled, 6 mm long, green in color.

Disease and insect resistance: No known susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

COMPARISON WITH THE KNOWN CULTIVARS

When `96-009-4` is compared to Impatiens walleriana `Super Elfin White` (unpatented) it is found that `96-009-4` exhibits an unusual flower color, i.e., a shade of orange which does not occur in any I. walleriana known to applicants. The flowers of `96-009-4` are cupped and slightly smaller, the plant is taller, has a more upright shape and larger leaves than the `Super Elfin White` (unpatented). The `96-009-4` plant also has red veination which is not present in the `Super Elfin White ` (unpatented) or any commercially available I. walleriana known to applicants. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named `96-009-4`, substantially as described and illustrated herein, characterized particularly as to novelty by its unusual shade of orange with red venation, slightly cupped flowers, early flowering, medium green foliage and upright branching growth habit. 